Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction) | Link to this | Hansard source

In the coming months, Australians like the good people of Goldstein will face a choice. The reality is that we are in one of the most dangerous decades in Australia's history, and, when you look at the stack of challenges and risks that we confront, it is crystal clear why we need strong government more than ever—whether you look at the national security challenges we face; security in supply chains and the risks that are not just economic but flow through to the delivery of reliable supply for our domestic economy; pandemic and health risks that are becoming more ever-present, as we're all mindful of, as a consequence of an interconnected world; the challenge of climate change and both the economic and environmental consequences; the economic issues of instability that come, as a consequence, in other countries, and how they could flow through to us; and, of course, what has happened to currencies, interest rates and inflation, as well as fuel and economic security risks, which we'll hear about later in the parliament today.

Wherever you look, there are big risks on the horizon. The question is who is it that you want to represent you, and which government do you want to be sitting on the Treasury benches to make the tough decisions? In the end, that's who we're voting for—not a government that wants to be liked but one that wants to make the decisions that are in the best interests of the nation.

Make no mistake; when it comes down to it, this government has always made the tough decisions, whether easy or hard. Compare that to the Labor Party, where already we have the Greens measuring up the curtains in ministerial offices, waiting to become part of a coalition government with the Labor Party. We have fake Independents, who are quite clear in their intent to install the Leader of the Opposition into a Prime Ministerial chair. They don't have the integrity to admit it, but that's absolutely their objective, and we know that from their campaigning and media activity, where, no matter what the problem is, it's always a coalition government on the Liberal side, with the National Party, that's the problem. That's why we need strong government now, and we need to elect members of parliament who are from the Liberal Party to whichever seat across the country to make sure that we're in the best position to respond to these threats. You just need to look at them; they won't answer tough questions like where they stand on nuclear submarines, through to securing the Solomon Islands and the impact it has on our country right now.

Poor economies are weak economies, and they make weak countries; they will suffer what they may. Rich economies are ones that are strong. They're able to stand up and defend their sovereignty and their interests, and to help other countries do so as well. This is the choice that Australians will face some Saturdays ahead, because on Tuesday night the Treasurer handed down a budget which clearly articulated the difference between this side of the chamber and the other side. Labor always look at the budget as a pathway to empower themselves; we look at how we can empower citizens, families and communities to take responsibility for themselves as the foundation for a great nation. We look forward to this election, and I look forward to the return of a Morrison government.